Cards of peace, words of hope

By Shelani de Silva

"We don't know your faces, but we know your hearts............."These were the touchingly simple sentiments expressed by the Jaffna Girl Guides to their sister Guides in the south when the Deputy Chief Commissioner of the Girl Guides Association Marlyn Dissanayake visited Jaffna recently.

The visit by a Girl Guide chief after nearly 20 years revealed the unity among 80 guides and guiders (teachers) from the Jaffna District who despite their difficulties gathered at the Vembadi Girls School for a two day training programme.

It was quite by chance that Marlyn Dissanayake got the opportunity to visit Jaffna. The visit had been on the agenda for years, many invitations having been extended by the Jaffna guides and even nuns at the Holy Family Convent who had said they would "make sure she is not kidnapped."

So when a group of St John's College, Jaffna old boys from Colombo made plans to visit Jaffna for the college 175th anniversary celebration, and there were three seats available on the flight Marlyn Dissanayake seized the opportunity. Accompanied by the Hillwood College Kandy Principal Miss. Sumithra Rathnayake and the Bishop of Kurunegala, the group left for Jaffna.

"I was able to inform the Jaffna Commissioner of my visit. I wanted as many guides to attend the programme. But I did not have high expectations knowing their difficulties and their situations. But I was surprised to see that out of the 43 guiders from the 30 Company (Guide group) only one was unable to attend that too because her area had a cordon and search operation. We also informed them to bring along at least three other guides. So in all I had nearly 87 in the programme," added Marlyn.

Initially communication was the main obstacle, but fortunately most of them spoke English.

"I was afraid that due to the language barrier they would be reluctant to participate in the programme. At first they did seem a bit reserved. I explained I came to see them because they were a part of us. I said that just like them we too had to go through check points and other security measures and all of us were caught in this crossfire. But the only difference is that we in the South had no curfew," she said.

As a gesture of love and friendship the guides from the South (Colombo) had made several cards for the Jaffna guides. They had said they were happy to know them and that they missed them at their events. When the Jaffna girls got the greeting cards they had been so overwhelmed that in less than two days they made similar cards, all with messages of peace.

I made it clear that the GGA Headquarters belonged to them too.I told them to visit us whenever possible. Infact several of them have sent us messages and greetings through people who came to Colombo," Marlyn said.

"It's remarkable how they go on with life. Most often when the guiders from Colombo say that they have problems I point out that they cannot afford to complain. Most of the Jaffna girls have not met or seen a Sinhala or Muslim girl their age," she said.

One of the issues discussed was the need to arrange guide exchange programmes. Although it was a welcome suggestion, the lack of funds remains an obstacle.

"But we are determined to go ahead. We have to think of the younger guides. They have a future and they have the right to know about guides in other parts of the country," she said.

It would be apt to conclude with a quote from a guide studying in Jaffna's Ilavali Convent:

"Peace, everyone Peace
Let's end the trouble
Like fighting and war
Peace everyone peace"

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